The award was presented during the WSIS Forum 2026, held at the Palexpo Exhibition and Convention Centre in Geneva from 6 to 10 July. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Dr. Ali bin Amur Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology and Head of the Omani Delegation; H.E. Idris bin Abdulrahman Al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva; H.E. Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Hoom Al Mayassi, Wali of Dibba; together with officials and specialists from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Office of the Governor of Musandam.

During the ceremony, H.E. Dr. Ali bin Amur Al Shidhani delivered Oman’s address, expressing pride in this distinguished international achievement. He said the success of an Omani project providing digital solutions for sustainable energy and environmental protection is aligned with the Sultanate’s initiatives in green data centres, the Green AI Alliance and green computing. He reaffirmed that Oman extends a hand of cooperation to all in building a sustainable digital economy.

The award-winning Smart Lighting project is based on the smart city concept and employs Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to connect lighting poles to a central intelligent platform for remote monitoring, control and management. The system enables real-time monitoring, proactive fault detection, automated operating schedules and energy consumption analysis, improving operational efficiency and enhancing services provided to the community.

The project aims to strengthen environmental sustainability by optimising electricity consumption and reducing carbon emissions associated with conventional lighting networks. It also lowers operation and maintenance costs, improves response times, extends the operational lifespan of lighting network components, and provides accurate data and performance indicators to support informed decision-making and efficient management of government assets.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Forum, H.E. Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Hoom Al Mayassi, Wali of Dibba and Director of the Digital Transformation Programme at Musandam Governorate, described the award as a strategic success for the Governorate in harnessing innovation and advanced technologies to serve the community and achieve sustainable development goals. He added that the achievement builds on the project's international recognition at the 2025 WSIS Summit, when it was honoured as one of the best sustainable and replicable projects, and is fully aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

Amina bint Mohammed Al Shuhiyah, Director of the Information Technology Department at the Directorate General of Administrative and Financial Affairs in Musandam Governorate, said the Smart Lighting project represents a pioneering milestone in the Governorate’s digital transformation journey. She explained that the IoT-based platform enables remote monitoring and management, real-time fault detection, energy analysis and automated scheduling, while providing decision-makers with accurate data for effective asset management.

She added that the project delivers tangible environmental and economic benefits by reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency, lowering operating and maintenance costs, extending the service life of lighting network components and enhancing the efficiency of public expenditure.

Al Shuhiyah affirmed that the global recognition reflects the capability of Omani talent in Musandam Governorate to develop and implement impactful projects that benefit society locally and internationally, supporting Oman Vision 2040 through digital transformation, efficient resource utilisation and smart solutions for sustainable cities.

The WSIS Forum is among the world's leading international platforms dedicated to advancing the information society and digital transformation. The WSIS Prizes are organised annually to recognise outstanding ICT initiatives and projects that contribute to community development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hundreds of projects from around the world compete each year across 18 main categories covering digital government, digital infrastructure, environment and smart cities, innovation and entrepreneurship, disaster risk management and other areas supporting digital development.